Two $100,000 Prizes Presented by Savannah Ocean Exchange

The winners of the 2012 Solutions Exchange awards are Protei and Nonox Ltd.

Sep 25, 2012

The Savannah Ocean Exchange announced the two winners of the 2012 Solutions Exchange awards as selected by its Global Review Panel. Each winner gets a $100,000 prize from two sponsors, Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. and Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics.

The Gulfstream Navigator Award is being given to Protei: Ocean Cleaning Sailing Robots, presented by Gabriella Levine. Protei is a surface vessel "constructed to carry research instruments and environmental cleanup equipment autonomously over long distances on the ocean via wind power," according to SOE's news release, which said the project "was conceived in response to inefficiencies in oil spill relief efforts, and frustration with the unsustainable research and design costs of current robotic oceanic drones."

"We congratulate Protei, winner of this year’s award," said Joe Lombardo, executive vice president, Aerospace Group, at General Dynamics, parent company of Gulfstream Aerospace. "They demonstrated what can be done when diverse groups work together. Everyone who presented a solution this week deserves to be recognized for embracing the spirit of collaboration and cooperation and for their commitment to make a positive difference in the world."

The Orcelle® Grant of 2012 and $100,000 is being given to Nonox: Emulsion Combustion Systems, presented by Wes Pence. The Nonox Ltd emulsion combustion unit is a complete emulsion fuel system for cleaning up fossil fuel emissions, according to the release, which says a proven method of cleaning up emissions is on the inlet side of the engine/boiler by using water in oil-emulsified fuels. The system is easy to install and offers an ROI typically less than one year, it states.

"The Nonox Emulsion Combustion System is an innovative solution that can decrease emissions of harmful substances to the air considerably, both at sea and on land. The team has done an impressive job in developing this promising technology. We hope that the Orcelle Grant will make it possible for them to bring this product to market and look forward to supporting the laureate on this journey," said Christopher Connor, deputy CEO and CCO of Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics of Norway.

SOE was founded in 2010 to distribute and adopt solutions that positively affect the ocean, economies, and health.